Indicator device actuable by the movement of a golf club head between two spaced strips on a mat



July 13, 1965 J. B. SCHROER 3,194,565

INDICATOR DEVICE ACTUABLE BY THE MOVEMENT OF A GOLF CLUB HEAD BETWEEN :wo

SPACED STRIPS ON A MAT Filed June 3, 1965 INVENTOR I0 l4 JOHN B. SCHROER BY 4;; aaflzhfwx 6 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,194,565 INDICATOR DEVICE ACTUABLE BY THE MOVE- MENT OF A GOLF CLUB HEAD BETWEEN TWO SPACED STRIPS ON A MAT John B. Schroer, 1111 Tumbleweed Ave., Las Vegas, Nev. Filed June 3, 1963, Ser. No. 284,869 7 Claims. (Cl. 273-186) This invention relates to coordination of the body and more particularly to the development, improvement and maintenance of a satisfactory golf club swinging motion.

In the playing of golf a club is held in the hands and its head is swung back in a generally ar'cuate motion or back swing, following which the'motion is reversed for the purpose of hitting a ball lying on or just above the surface of the ground. While there may be variations in the swinging motion of various golfers, including experts, it is apparent that the club head must hit the ball substantially squarely and along the intended line of flight or direction in order to accomplish the desired result. Hence, it is important that the club head move correctly in that portion of the swing immediately preceding and following contact with the ball.

Various persons, due to diifernces in height, weight, proportions or strength, perform the swinging motion in various ways. Many of these are unable to have the services of an expert to assist them in developing a swing of approved nature. Furthermore, many persons are able to golf only occasionally and require a simple means for practicing their swing in order to maintain the same during periods of golf inactivity.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple, inexpensive device by means of which a golfer may practice the swinging motion and which will enable him to develop, improve and maintain such swinging motion.

A further object is the provision of a device which indicates errors in the swing at the most important part thereof, namely, in the hitting zone.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2, a section to an enlarged scale in the line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3, an illustration of the manner of using the device.

Briefly stated, the present invention is embodied in a flexible mat having upstanding flexible strips on the upper surface spaced to permit passage of a club head therebetween in the hitting zone of the swing and having indicators adjacent to the upstanding strips by means of which the golfer may be made aware of certain characteristics of his swing in such hitting zone.

With further reference to the drawing, the device includes a base 10, illustrated as rectangular, and having strips 11 and 12 extending vertically upwardly from the upper surface thereof and in spaced relation. The strips each have a straight main portion 13 of uniform height and a tapered approach portion 14 whose height diminishes from the rear extremity 15 of the main portion 13 to the level of the surface of the base 10 at the rear edge thereof. The portions 14 are curved in order to facilitate entry of the club head into the space between the main portion 13 and to permit the club head to move in the desired are as, for example, in an inside-out path of swing.

The base preferably has longitudinal and transverse lines or indicia 17, 18 for the purpose of assisting the golfer in orienting his swing and the club face, and a hole 20 at the center of the base for receiving a tee on which the ball may be supported if desired.

Positioned justahead of the central lateral indicia 18 and just outside of the main portion 13 of the upstanding strips are left and right indicators 21, 22. Similar indicators 23, 24 are mounted a few inches forwardly of the indicators 21, 22. I

Each of the indicators includes an upstanding post 25 to which a hemispherical metal shell or hell 26 is mounted by an elongated bolt or rod 27 projecting upwardly through the post and having a fastener 28 for holding the bell thereon. Adjacent to each of the bells the strip portions 13 have protusions 349 in which a pin 31 is mounted, providing a clapper for the bell 26. g The bells are preferably constructed of differing sizes or with differing amounts of metal in order that each will have a different tone. Various types of signal may be provided.

In the use of the device for practicing swinging with a club such as a wood the golfer positions himself with respect to the device as in FIG. 3, in such a manner that hitting a ball teed at the location 29 would be the object of his endeavor. By swinging the club head so that it passes between the strips 11 and 12 and in close promity to the upper surface of the base 10 he may practice with a view of developing, improving and maintaining the proper swing, especiaily in the hitting zone. Should his swing veer to the left or right and strike either of the strip portions 13, this will cause the strip portion to flex outwardly and cause either or both of the adjacent bells to ring. By diligent practice the golfer may be able consistently to swing between the strips without actuating any of the indicators. Thus, by continued practice he may be able to develop a grooved swing and thereby improve his game.

The device is also useful for practicing putting, the manner of use being the same, and the device assisting the golfer to train himself in moving the putting iron in a straight line between the two upstanding strips.

The base and the upstanding strips may be formed from various flexible materials, rubber of appropriate softness and flexibility being suitable.

The device may be used on the practice range, with the ball hit from between the upstanding strips or may be used without a ball in a more confined space such as in the home.

While the invention is not limited to the dimensions of the various parts, for the purpose of illustration and to assist in the construction of the same, a satisfactory embodiment has been produced having a base of one quarter inch thickness, the strips at their main portion extending upwardly from the base one and one quarter inch for, a length of 10 inches, the base extending beyond each of the ends of the main portion of the strips for 7 inches. The strips are of inch nominal thickness, the main portions 13 spaced apart 4% inches, the tapered ends spaced apart 9 /2". The pair of indicators adjacent to the lateral indicia 18 are mounted with their centers of an inch advanced from the indicia and the second pair of indicators with their centers advanced from the first 4 inches.

It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification, but only as indicated in the accompanying claims.

I claim:

1. A golf practice swing device, comprising a relatively broad flat base adapted to be placed in a horizontal position on the ground or floor in front of a golfer, a pair of upstanding elongated strips extending along and with their lower sides on said base, said strips being of low height and having opposed straight parallel main portions spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than the length of the head of a golf club, indicating means mounted adjacent to the outer sides of said strips whereby said strips when struck actuate said indicating means.

2. The invention of claim 1, said main portions being of substantially uniform height, said strips having down Wardly tapering end portions oppositely disposed and flaring away from each other.

3. The invention of claim 2, said indicators comprising a post extending upwardly from said base, a bell mounted on said post, and said strips having bell-striking means mounted thereon. I

4. The invention of claim lin which said indicators are mounted in oppositely spaced pairs, the first of said pairs of indicators being mounted slightly forwardly of the central part of thernain portions of said strips.

5. The invention of claim 4- in which a second of said longitudinal and lateral indicia thereon and intersecting centrally of the base.

7. The invention of claim 6 in which a hole is provided at the intersection of said indicia. Y 4

References Cited'by the Examiner UNITED sTATEs PATENTS 720,406- 2/03 c1isoi-d. 273-186 1,596,110 8/26 Lynch 27333X 2,149,174 2/39 Johnson 273 -1s6 FOREIGN PATENTS 281,064 12/27 Great Britain. 464,220 '4/37 Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

1. A GOLF PRACTICE SWING DEVICE, COMPRISING A RELATIVELY BROAD FLAT BASE ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION ON THE GROUND OR FLOOR IN FRONT OF A GOLFER, A PAIR OF UPSTANDING ELONGATED STRIPS EXTENDING ALONG AND WITH THEIR LOWER SIDES ON SAID BASE, SAID STRIPS BEING OF LOW HEIGHT AND HAVING OPPOSED STRAIGHT PARALLEL MAIN PORTIONS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER A DISTANCE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE LENGTH 